Display-box.



W. T. CLINGER.

DISPLAY BOX.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 5.1913.

1,]. 50, 176. Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

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W125 655 es:

displaying fruit and nuts.

WILLIAM r; cLIiveEn, or OIL CITY,

PENNSYLVANIA.

nisrLAY-BoX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 17, 1915.

Application filed June 5, 1913. Serial No. 771,982.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM T. CLINGER, a citizen of the United States, resident of Oil City, county of Venango, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Display-Boxes, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best. mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions. My invention relates to display boxes for The object of theinvention is to provide means for supporting and displaying fruit such as apples, oranges or the like, and which may be readily converted into areceptacle for displaying smaller fruits and nuts.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described and particularly set forth in the claim.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in'detail certain means embodying my invention, the disclosed means, however, constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be applied. 7 In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 is a perspective view of a display box embodylng my invention. Fig. 2 1s a cross-section of same showing it in position for use for the purpose of supporting and displaying fruit such as apples, oranges and the like. Fig. 3 is a similar cross-section showing the device in a position in which it is used as a receptacle for the displaying of small fruits ornuts.

The illustrated device embodying my invention consists of a receptacle 1 having four lateral inclosing sides and the end-member 2 permanently secured to said sides, the latter and said end-member forming an open ended receptacle. The open end of the latter is provided with the surrounding flange 3 which renders the area of said opening slightly less than the cross-sectional area of the interior of the receptacle. The member 2 is provided with a series of perforations 4.- r

4 which are arranged in rows and form seats forations 4, when for the apples or oranges to be displayed. The outer ends of these perforations are slightly beveled as shown, so as to more readily receive and hold the individual pieces of fruit, as will be readily understood. When used for supporting and displaying apples, oranges, etc., the above described device is placed upon a suitable support with the open end down, as shown in Fig. 2, and the fruit is placed in the perforations to form a lower layer upon which additional fruit may be piled to form a pyramid.

Within the interior of the receptacle is a diaphragm 5 made of sheet metal or a thin wooden board, this diaphragm being slightly less in area than the interior of the receptacle and greater in area than the open end thereof. This diaphragm is detached from the sides of the receptacle and may therefore move freely toward or from the perforations 4 or the flange 3. The area of the diaphragm is furthermore such that it may be used to completely cover all of the perthe receptacle is reversed, as shown in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to use the receptacle for the display of small fruits or nuts, it is placed in the position shown in Fig. 3, in which the diaphragm will cover all of the perforations 4 and the open end of the receptacle will be at the top. In this position it forms a suitable receptacle for said small fruits or nuts, as will be readily understood.

"I prefer to provide the member 2 with proj ecting buttons 6 6, as shown in Fig. 1, which form feet upon which the receptacle rests when used as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The flange 3 prevents the inadvertent revmoval or loss of the diaphragm 5 so that the receptacle is always in condition for use for either of the above described purposes.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is In a display boX, the combination of a re ceptacle havinglateral inclosing sides and a member permanently secured thereto so as to form with said sides an open-ended receptacle, said member being provided with perforations adapted to form a seat for fruit from the perforated member, the position of the receptacle, whereby said I s1 ch as apples or the like; a diaphragm in said receptacle consisting of a single sheet and adapted to move by gravity toward and according to perforations may be covered and the receptacle adapted to retain small fruits and nuts; and means for retaining said diaphragm vvithin the receptacle so as to prevent its 1 inadvertent removal from said open end. 1o

Signed by me, this 14L day of Hay,'191 3.

. IL IAMT. oLnveER. Attested by Y W. BERRY, M. M. MGVEAeI-i,

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each; by addressing the Commissioner, of Patents Washington, D. G." 

